Lumberjacks battle back from behind, but lose 4-3 to Youngstown in overtime

MUSKEGON – Home sweet home just hasn’t been that sweet for the Muskegon Lumberjacks so far this season.

The Jacks are now 2-3-2 (the third number stands for overtime losses) at L.C. Walker Arena, following Saturday’s disappointing 4-3 OT loss to the Youngstown Phantoms.

The Jacks trailed after one period, rallied to take a one-goal lead, fell behind again, then tied the score late in the third period.

But Youngstown’s Zach Metsa settled with issue with a goal 2:42 into the overtime period.

The defeat came in front of 4,035 fans, the Jacks’ biggest home crowd of the season.

“It’s early in the year, and we’re trying to get these guys to believe in themselves and learn what it takes, night after night,” said Lumberjacks Coach John LaFontaine. “It’s a tough league and there are no easy games.

No. 21 Vincent De Mey tries to get his stick in front of Youngstown’s No. 6 Max Ellis while Nash Nienhuis and Lumberjack goalie Adam Brizgala wait for a rebound. Photo/Jason Goorman

“You make your breaks in the game. We had a lot of chances to take a bigger lead when we were up 2-1 and we didn’t. The effort is there. We just have to execute.”

Muskegon fell to 4-5-2 on the season. The Jacks came into a game in a three-way tie for last place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference with Youngstown and Dubuque.

Youngstown got two points in the standings for beating Muskegon, the Jacks got one point for playing to a regulation tie, and Dubuque was winning as of this writing.

The Jacks will have a rematch with Youngstown on Sunday at home at 3:15 p.m.

The Lumberjacks may have lost on Saturday, but at least they can say they put up a tough fight.

They feel behind at 17:46 of the first period when Youngstown’s Curtis Hall scored while his team enjoyed a two-man power play advantage.

The Jacks tied the score 1-1 at 15:31 of the second period when Bobby Kaiser spun around and ripped a shot from the left faceoff circle past Youngstown goalie Ivan Prosvetov. It was his first goal of the season.